Chapter Six

Mac had been experiencing a terrible nightmare. He had been a little boy wandering through the apartment complex that he had grown up in. The apartment had been dark and dank, and he remembered having to feel for the walls and furniture with his hands. And though he had been calling out for help, he hadn't been able to find anyone. He had been lost. Perhaps now, whenever he was around his family, he was still a little lost.

When he woke up, however, and saw the familiar wallpaper, he knew that he was at Foster's. Relief flooded through his body. He was lying in his bed, and he looked up to see Bloo standing over him.

"Mac. You passed out."

"I passed out?" he repeated dumbly.

"Yeah. You've got a really high fever."

Mac suddenly felt how hot and achy his head seemed. It throbbed. Every part of his body was exhausted but his mind: his thoughts were racing.

"I'm sorry, Mac."

"Why are you apologizing?"

Bloo sighed. "Just for the sake of apologizing."

Mac felt touched. Random acts of kindness weren't really associated with Bloo's personality. "Oh Bloo… it's not your fault."

"I know it's not my fault! I'm just saying, I'm sorry that you got stuck with a crappy pair of parents."

"Well, that's just how the cookie crumbles, I guess…" Mac shrugged his shoulders. "Man. I didn't realize I was working so hard."

"You didn't get a fever because you were working too hard; you just weren't working efficiently."

"Thanks, Bloo."

"I would have just gotten the friends to do my chores."

"I know, Bloo."

Bloo rubbed the back of his head. "So, Denise and Reggy went home… and Jette was in tears."

"Jette?" Mac cried out. "Why was she crying?"

"So, while we were apparently neglecting our son, it turns out that Jette had convinced Junior to go to the dance this Friday with her instead of Willow… which pissed off Willow and that's why they're fighting… And Junior told her tonight that he didn't want to go with Jette anyways."

"Wh…wow…"

"Yeah, you're telling me. I had no idea that this was going on… Oh wait, he did mention something about him being a terrible person."

"And what did you say?"

"I told him good job. You know, I figured I should be the supportive parent."

Mac groaned and shook his head. He stared up at the ceiling and watched the fan circle around and around.

"Well, I guess that's a sign that we're not recognizing what's important." Mac pulled his knees to his chest as he sat up.

Bloo assisted him by placing a pillow behind his back. Mac cast him a look of graciousness.

"What do you mean, oh wise man?"

"I mean… I've been so concerned about… I guess, my other family: my mom and my dad, and that's distracted me from Junior… and the new baby."

"If there is a new baby."

"Yeah. If there is." Mac rested his chin on his knees. "I don't think my mother and I will ever be settled between each other. I think there's too much hurt there. She wants a relationship, but she only wants a relationship if it's on her terms. If I act according to her standards… and I don't need that, Bloo. I just don't."

"I know, baby." Bloo stroked Mac's hair soothingly as he climbed onto the bed beside him. He wrapped his arms around Mac and allowed Mac to lay against him.

"I should just write them off completely."

"Both of them?"

"Yes! They're just as bad as each other."

"Uh… yeah, Mac, I don't think that's the case…"

"What do you mean?"

"Well… your dad, he seems okay."

"He's a convict and a recovering drug addict. That's what he's always going to be, Bloo."

"But he was the only one…" Bloo fumbled for words. "He's the only one that didn't reject you. He wanted to stay tonight, Mac. He's called a few times now because he's trying to make sure that you're okay. And he's already said that he doesn't care."

"He was really freaked out though."

"Mac. A pregnant man. That's freaky as hell."

"Okay, okay. I see your point."

Bloo nodded and murmured, "It seems that… he gets it, you know? He's never had the opportunity to be a parent. To go to your soccer games and whatever."

"I never played soccer, Bloo."

"You're not seeing the point, Mac. He gets it. All he wants to do is be in your life."

Mac smiled softly. "Well, if he does, then I'm not going to reject that."

"And maybe eventually your mom will come around too…"

"No. She's too stubborn."

"Okay, well yeah, that relationship is pretty much for shit, but… at least you can have a dad, no matter if he's a convict-drug dealer-whatever."

"Speaking of a dad," Mac said, raising himself out of the bed, "I should really go and talk to Junior about this whole Willow-Jette dance situation."

"Alright. But hurry back, okay?" Bloo said with a purr, lowering his eyelids seductively.

Mac blushed and nodded. "I'll be back."

Junior heard his father rapping on the door. He spun away from his desk and grudgingly said that his father could come in.

"Hey, Junior." Mac came in and sat down on the bed.

"Hey Dad."

"So… it seems I've been missing a few things with you."

"Yeah." Junior nodded, chewing on his bottom lip.

"You and Willow got in a fight, huh? Over this whole dance?"

"Uh huh. It all started when Jette starting making a big deal over it… she was like, but Willow's a human and you're an imaginary friend… And she was saying all it would do was cause unnecessary drama and Willow's mom wouldn't let her go with me… and Jette wanted to go with me," Junior explained.

Mac arched a brow at his son. "Uh, so the thing that was stopping you was that Willow is a human and you're… not?"

"Well, I mean, I guess I got all confused," Junior admitted. "I mean, Dad, I don't even know what the hell I am. It's like I'm caught between two worlds and I've never realized it until now. And I was thinking if I really wanted that drama myself, and if I wanted to throw myself into it, and…"

"Junior…" Mac got up and kissed his son's head. His head smelled like blueberry shampoo, the kind that he had used since he was a little kid. "You know what I think?"

Junior rolled his eyes. "Yeah Dad, I would like to know what you think."

Mac sat down on the bed again, and looked his son directly in the eyes. "I think that you are whoever you choose to be. And you don't have to choose to be an imaginary friend or be a human. Because you're both, Junior. You're right when you say that you're caught between two worlds. But that's not disabling you from doing anything, honey, it's just… it's just who you are."

Junior nodded, absorbing the information that his father had just given him. And then something occurred: a change in the light in his eyes, and he grinned at his dad.

"Wait, so what was that you just said? The whole last part?" he snatched a pen and a piece of paper.

"Uh… You're caught between two worlds but that's not stopping you? It's just who you are?"

"Yeah, yeah," Junior murmured, quickly scribbling the line down. "That's some good stuff, Dad."

Mac was confused until he suddenly realized. He threw up his hands in the air.

"Oh my God, don't tell me that you just referenced me for that speech project!"

"Yeah. Turns out the final is due tomorrow, so…" Junior sucked in air through his teeth. "I better get to work."

"Oh Junior…"

"Relax, Daddi-o, I'll get a good grade. I just needed that extra push."

"Okay, I'll let you get to work." Mac stood up and walked over to the door. He then glanced back at his son, who was sitting at his desk and hurriedly working. "Junior?"

Junior raised his head and looked at his dad.

"Do you know what you're going to do now? For the dance?"

Junior smiled broadly. "Yeah, Dad. I know what I'm going to do."